Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-14
HnlVmannY Must Go.

Congress liz losing patience with the
Mormons. @Ithas tried ell kinds of mod.
crate means to induce them TO give up
polygamy sbEt without success. 1t sees
now that the only thing to be done is to
adopt harsh measures. IL the MormOns
viii not give up their peculiar Institution
without being forced to do so, then they
must be shown that the government has
both the bA@ef aud the Intention to make
them give ii up.
The anti-MOrmOn bill which passed the
House on Wednesday,, as a substitute for
Senator Edmunds' bill on the same sub
ject, is mainly the work OF Hon. Randolph
Tucker, of Virginia. In some respects it
is superior to the Edmunds bill. and, if
the Senate accepts it, will tend to put an
end TO pOlygamy in very short time.
1t is remarkab bic that the governm emit
has permitted the MOrmons TO violate the
laws respecting polygamy so long as it
has. Poly gamy has been steadily prac-
tced since the Mormons left Illinois and
settled in Utah. The government has
protested in vain against the evil, Con-
gresG has passed laws to destroy it,
and missionaries have done what they
could TO create sentiment against 1t.
In the face OF laws, protests and mis-
sionary work it has steadily grown
greater. 1t has secured a foothold In
Montana, Idaho and New Mexico, and if
ii is not speedily checked, it Will obtain
as firm a hold of the people o those Terri
tories as it has upon those of Utah.
The Tucker bill, while it repeats some
of the existing laws against polygamy,
because experience has shown that they
do not accomplish the object that was
aimed at, contains shrewd and
stringent provisions. Its purpose, evil
IDENTITY, is not to show any leniency to
polygamOus MOrmons.
The general opinion is that the Mormon
Women do not, as general rule, approve
OF polygamy, and there is no reason to
think that this opinion is incorrect. Why
should they approve OF il? Those who do
are religious fanatics, and are strangers.
to all the better and finer feelings of their
natures. The Mormon women are little
better than slaves and the future holds
no bright promises for them. The Tucker
bill opens a way for them to better their
condition, ana while they may be slow t.
avail themselves of ii at first, because of
their fears OF punishment for lack OF
LOYALTY to their church, it is not improb-
able that in time, if afforded proper pro-
lection, they will be found working
against polygamy.
1t is pretty certain that however popu-
lous Utah may become it will not be adj
mitted as state as long as there is
possibility hat the Mormons will control
it. Once State, with the Mormons IN
tue majority, polygamy there would be
beyond the reach Of the government, and
would flourish more vigorously than ever.
Mrs. Cleveland is in nigh favor with
the newspaper correspondents at Wash
ington, both male and female. She
knows that they have fsyors to grant, and
that they will be granted freely TO those
who show proper appreciation OF them.
There are soma people who feel that they
are Sighted il the newspapers fail 10
notice them, or keep them prominently
before the public, aud yet they never
think of putting themselves out OF the
way TO do favors for the newspapers. The
President. Il is said, is taking few les.
sons from his wife, which may be bene-
fetal to him.
Pennsylvania Governors make their
annual messages too long il they want
tnem printed. Not a single Philadelphia
paper printed the last one, and the people
dIdn't growl either. Life is too snort TO
read a dozen columns of dry details about
matters IN which there is little interest.
The American Opera COMPANY is said
TO be "on its last legs" VOL, Welt Due
to rheumatism from exposure, no doubt.
But as the nam feature Of the ballet IL
legs, and the last can't be expected "a
L....--. L.L-.